Marina del Rey man chosen as Alumnus of the Year at university in Burbank

Marina del Rey resident Harry Gilbert has been honored along with several others with Woodbury University’s Alumnus of the Year Award in recognition of his years of service as a member of the university’s Board of Trustees.

“During this special 125th anniversary of Woodbury University in 2009, it is my honor to recognize the many outstanding contributions that Harry has made to the institution,” University President Kenneth R. Nielsen said.

Nielsen said that Gilbert and the fellow trustees being honored were instrumental in making the bold decision to move the university’s main campus from downtown Los Angeles to the foothills of the Verdugo Mountains in Burbank.

Founded in 1884, Woodbury University is one of the oldest institutions of higher education in Southern California and has educated more than 75,000 alumni.

The university has been located in the Los Angeles area since its founding and established a San Diego campus in 1998 that offers bachelor of architecture and master of architecture in real estate development degrees.